Hospital Admission and Instructions by Physician

Years ago I think it was basically standard practice for a doctor to order an enema to a patient admitted for a hospital stay. I'm wondering if anyone has such forms they would post ?

My grandmother who was a nurse working at the local hospital back in the 50s 60s and 70s said that a enema or two was standard practice when one was admitted

My grandmother who was a nurse working at the local hospital back in the 50s 60s and 70s said that a enema or two was standard practice when one was admitted

I would had appreciated getting one by the next day after they took out the catheter from my penis. I would had probably been alright constipation wise the rest of my stay. They didn't really seem too concerned about bowel movements while I was there a few months ago.

I think probably 85-90% of the patients got enemas in the hospital during the 60’s and 70’s. You saw a nurse carrying a can and hose walk by your room many times a day. At least once during your stay it was for you.

1971,, I had one the night before I had surgery.

At one time the standard admission order set that physicians filled out when one of their patients was admitted to the floor was the question, “SSE (soap suds enema)?” And the doc simply checked Yes or No and I don’t recall any ever being checked as “No”

Around 1960, when I was 7 yrs old, I know the doctor required getting a "2 Pint Soapy Enema" the night before my tonsillectomy procedure. I actually have the papers copied on my home computer. I know I received one the day after, from the (small hospital) nurses, which I wasn't very cooperative for. They were also quite concerned to have a daily bowel movement when I got home. If not, give "castoria, or an enema".

When I had rectal surgery at the famed Cleveland Clinic I complained about how I hated to drink cyolite to cleanses your colon. I was given the option of "enemas until clear". I was ready to take the "enemas until clear" until the doctor told me that I had to be at the clinic at 6 am instead of 8 am. I did a quick calculation in my head and figured if I wanted a shower I would have had to get up before 5 am so I chose the cyolite. Whatever they gave me was fast acting and I only had to drink 3 glasses of it.

When I was about 13 and had my appendixs out, a Nurse came in the next morning and gave me my 1st ever enema. I was a little worried at 1st, but after a minute, I really started enjoying it. I even got a erection but I was on my side so she couldn't see it. So my love for enemas started and the rest is history.

My mother underwent gallbladder surgery in 1969. She had to be at the hospital the night before. Visiting hours ended at 8 o’clock. I didn’t want to leave. I still remember Mom saying that we needed to go because a nurse was going to shave her tummy and give her an enema.

She was in the hospital for three days, and the afternoon before she came home, they had given her another enema. She also had a laxative that she was to take at home.

My situation was similar to @KennyT although I don't have the paper evidence as does he. LOL. I had a tonsillectomy in 1954 when I was 8. The evening before I had my first and only hospital SSE. Lots of subsequent Fleets usually after surgeries. That first one was a bittersweet--- if I may borrow that enema adjective used by the author of Peyton Place---experience. The sweet part was the nurse doing the SSE used the now classic white can and colon tube and even at that age I enjoyed something about it , whether it was a sexual thing (?) or just another motherly figure taking care of me. The bitter part was I lived in a very small town and my first enema nurse went to the same church. When I saw her there the following Sunday I went out of my way to avoid her .I felt as if the whole congregation knew she had given me an enema. Couldn't wait to get home but MANY fond memories of her inserting the lubed tube and telling me " We'll do this nice and slow. Tell me when you have to poop".

When were enemas with bag or bucket replaced by disposables, for this?

@Jacana I remember the first ads for fleets showed up in American nursing journals about 1960. Some of the more astute Zity.biz historians may have more detailed info.

All my visits to the hospital for surgery were with an enema.

The first time I got an enema in the hospital the evening before the surgery.

The second time I did it at home. In the morning for the surgery to the hospital.

This year my wife had an operation. There was an instruction to limit food from the evening, and not to eat from the morning. There was no talk of an enema.

I suspect the infatuation with enemas in hospitals was driven by managing odors. Face it, humans like cattle are flatus producers. You do not know when emissions will occur, only that they can be pungent to the extreme. Since clearing the descending and sigmoid colon and rectum typically eliminates flatulence for up to 24 hours, it would seem it was simple environmental management. Everyone is scheduled at the same time and you get the big stink out of the way for the next 23 hours.

Up until the late 1950's, many hospitals did not have central air and heating. Air movement was minimal so any flatulence lingered for long periods. If you have 200 patients producing emissions 24/7 the air will be putrid. Only in recent decades have hospitals moved from semi-private and wards of up to 12 patients and modern air handling systems. Short of corking everyone with activated charcoal filters, I cannot see any other way to manage the odor.

I had my gallbladder removed in the spring as an emergency surgery and was not given an enema, but was given directly from the ward to the operating room.

@Victoria1951 . What an interesting hypothesis. The most common reason for the frequent historical use of hospital enemas that I've encountered was the longstanding belief among Doctors in the theory of autointoxication.

What I suspect is the following… Anesthesia, laying in bed doing nothing, and painkillers, will get you constipated (personal experience). So better flush the system before surgery.

I never heard the explanation for enemas when admitted personally, Tess told me that mom's friend Marcella who worked at the only drug store in town, and worked evenings part time at the hospital that when ether was used as an anesthetic in some cases it caused the anal sphincter to relax causing a bowel movement contaminating the surgical area, thus the reason for enemas upon admission until better anesthetics were developed. Whether it's just conjecture or fact only another answer possibly from someone involved with a hospital from that era can answer that question. I only know from personal experience, in 1953 that enemas were given when hospitalized for a tonsillectomy, and after getting over the initial surprise I was hooked!!

I'm Still LostInThe50s

Marty

It was interesting to read each of the responses, and think back to my early hospitalizations, when enemas were a common prep prior to surgery. One event has been a pleasant thought for more than 60 years. A particular nurse came into the room late at night before my scheduled knee surgery. I had already been shaved. Because I was in a 4 bed ward, she whispered a question, "can I get you an enema?". This question has stuck with me due to my involuntary reactions at the time. My infatuation with nurses has existed for those 60+ years. When all was said and done, the old guys in the other 3 beds shared their disdain for enemas. I could only respond that it was no big deal. I'd never decline an enema from an adept nurse, or an imposter!

In addition to the prior post, I had occasion to be scheduled for a TKR (total knee replacement). The surgeon was recognized as a top orthopedic physician. I was familiar with his nurse who was personable and witty. He provided patients with a preoperative bag that contained instructions, antibacterial soap, and a "Fleet" enema which he suggested using prior to reporting for surgery. His nurse went over the instructions and mentioned the enema. She added a second "Fleet" to my bag and teased me when I frowned. I responded to her that I preferred a nice warm enema as opposed to the "Fleet". She did tell me that was an acceptable alternative. I secretly hoped I'd get an offer of assistance.

Once at the hospital, I was given a questionnaire to complete as part of registration. One multiple choice question asked about elimination habits and preferences. I checked the answer that I used enemas. It was after surgery that I was having a challenge with urination and bowel issues. I ended up getting catheterized and the nurse commented that I had preferred enemas according to my chart. I admitted that was the case. She commented that my surgeon often included an order if enemas were necessary and asked if that was my preference. She returned with a "Fleet" and I told her that I would rather have a water enema. She told me that was her preference as well and would return in just a bit. I got the enema and was up and about for PT in short order. All in all, it was a successful process and the TKR has kept me mobile for decades.

During follow up at the office, his nurse noted that I got an enema according to my surgical notes. She asked if I had used the "Fleet's" and I told her no way. She did say to keep them handy if the pain meds got the best of me.

Years ago, my best friend a nurse and I had a conversation about enemas in the hospital when we had our babies. She also said that some doctors at the time wanted you to have a bowel movement prior to discharge if you were in for a few days. Whether from the effects of surgery, or just the inactivity of laying in bed for a few days, if things were not moving, you got an enema before the doctor would sign off on you. These days, because of the insurance company wanting you out right now, nobody is in long enough to get constipated unless you’re really sick.

The post of @Cheryl77177 was interesting. When I had my knee joints replaced the hospital liked you to stay overnight. The 35 year old head nurse, who I got to know well later encouraged me to remain in the hospital for two days, just for safety reasons (she said), so I did. Not once was there any mention of an enema while in the hospital stay or prior to release. I found out later in conversations with her on two occasions, that she, personally, hates enemas.

I worked part time at a small town hospital while in high school in the late 60's/early 70's. During the first summer I was there, I heard lots of enemas being given as I worked the late night shift with a few other high school guys polishing the floors. I frequently saw the collection of enema bags hanging in a prep area behind nurse's stations to dry. Knowing what they were, I sometimes got a tingling feeling when looking at them and wondered how I could get one of the student nurses to give me an enema.

Later on I was fortunate enough to work in medical records, basically as a filer. That meant I saw the records and could see who was getting enemas. It was thrilling to know which girls I knew that had been in the hospital were given enemas!